All Wines

Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2020
“Made by Gottfried Mocke of Boekenhoutskloof, but sold under its own label, this
stylish Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay is made with fruit that used to go into
Sumaridge. Marrying barrel- and concrete-fermented and aged portions, it has
jasmine and hawthorn aromas, pear and citrus fruit and very subtle wood spices.
2020-25” – 93 Points

Country: South Africa

Region: Hemel en Aarde Ridge

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

ABV: 13.8%

Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2021
“Spontaneously fermented, like sibling, 60% in new oak, rest concrete’eggs’ (vs
Pinot‘s 100% concrete vats). All-wholebunch 2018 is elegant, with pristine orchard
& stonefruit, hint of apple blossom, creamy vanilla. Dry, with, a grapefruit pith finish.
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge WO.”
– 4.5 Stars & 94 Points

An unassuming label for sure - but this wine is a crowd pleaser! Wonderful ripe lime, and citrus blossom aromas and flavours. Perfect with rich, creamy fish and pork dishes.

Country: Germany

Region: Mosel

Grapes: Riesling

ABV: 11.5%

Food match: Creamy fish pie, chicken or pork Schnitzel.

Led by award-winning winemaker José Neiva, this fruity Lisboa blend offers ripe berry  flavours leading to a smooth, fruity palate. It is a versatile choice for the
dinner table, pairing perfectly with pasta,meat or vegetarian cheese dishes.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisboa

Grapes: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Castelão and Syrah

ABV: 11%

Delightfully sweet  treat wine from our favourite Italian producer in Veneto! Passito means the grapes have been dried on racks before pressing, thereby concentrating the sugars and raisining the grapes. 

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes:Mancini and Moscato

ABV: 13.5%

A classic Barolo offering structure and elegance, with a red fruit base, floral notes, and hints of spice and tobacco. Perfumed and bright, very approachable yet serious and complex. Polished tannins and fresh acidity lead to a long, persistent finish, showing both immediate appeal for drinking now and excellent ageing potential.

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

15% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

A great way to discover Sauternes-like sweet wines. Wonderful aromas of melon, peach and honey. The palate is well balanced, very generous with a lot of exotic fruits and apricot. The finish is as long as with a good Sauternes. Awesome value sweet white!

Country: France

Region: Cadillac, Bordeaux

Grapes: 95% Semillon, 5% Muscadelle

ABV: 13%

This elegant rose uses exclusively the free run juice of Pinotage, which is the first collected must when the grapes are moved into the press, essentially allowing the grapes to be crushed by gravity, ensuring a minimal extraction of colour from skins and also preserve the natural acidity. This style of production is typically very delicate giving fine, soft and very fruity wines. Rose gold in colour with aromas of fresh red fruits and floral notes. The palate is crisp and full of flavours of raspberry, strawberry and grapefruit, finishing with a distinctive savoury minerality.

Country: South Africa

Region:

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Pinotage

Food match: pairs well with Thai food, salad niçoise and charcuterie.

Black Elephant Vintners call themselves ‘Rebels of the Vine’ and are pushing the boundaries of a traditional industry and having fun with their wines as seen by their labels. Based in the quaint village of Franschhoek, Kevin, Jacques and Raymond came together to combine their diverse skills and creativity to make great wine. They took inspiration from their surnames to become the Black Elephant Vintners - Swart and Ndlovu become `Black Elephant` and Jacques is the Vintner! Their wines are inspired by good tunes and they firmly believe that music and wine make the best pairing - far from traditional and very Rock ‘n’ Roll!

One glass of this great wine is simply not enough! Rich, full and outstanding blend of Chenin and Viognier grown on complex, stony soils, with a warm, dry climate and sea breeze unique to the Malgas region. of South Africa Fresh fruit and complex mineral  flavours, this wine carries on for a long while on the finish. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Malgas, Swellendam, Western Cape

Grapes: Chenin Blanc and Viognier

ABV: 14%

Sijnn is prounounced 'sen', or 'seine'

Certified IPW sustainable

Wonderful aromas and flavours of dried fruit, vanilla pod , sweet spice and dried herbs.

Native botanicals used: wormwood (magical plant), bay leaves, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, lemon balm, chamomile, hibiscus flowers, lemon pulp, sweet orange peel and bitter. Dark red hue with highlights of copper, this vermut awakens in the mouth a perfect combination between sweetness, acidity and bitterness. The nose has sweet fruity notes along with pastry, which are mixed with light spices and balsamic. It has great length and complexity on the palate.

Country: Spain

Region: Galicia

Grapes: Albarino

ABV: 15%

From an artisan, small batch producer of exquisite, craft vermouths. Based in Galicia and using Albarino wines as the base for their vermouths. The distinctive bottles are inspired by Salvador Dalí and handmade from porcelain.
Native botanicals used: wormwood (magical plant), bay leaves, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary,
thyme, sage, lemon balm, chamomile, hibiscus flowers, lemon pulp, sweet orange peel and bitter.
Dark red hue with highlights of copper, this vermut awakens in the mouth a perfect combination
between sweetness, acidity and bitterness. The nose has sweet fruity notes along with pastry, which
are mixed with light spices and balsamic. It has great length and complexity on the palate.

A pale, lightly savoury rosé of depth and purity. The older oak wraps this dry, mineral wine in a delicate creamy veil leading to a bright, structured and fine finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Drink chilled on its own or serve with fresh seafood, a quinoa and pomegranate salad or herb marinated grilled chicken tenders.

Style: Full Bodied and Bold Red

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Grapes: 100% Merlot

Other: Organic, Vegan

Aged in barrel for 23 months

ABV: 14,5%

We love this hidden gem of a wine. Erbaluce is a grape you've probably never heard of, we're baffled as to why it's not more famous! Fresh, saline and lemon zesty on the nose, the palate is clean, but slightly textured with a hint of wax. The finish is long, minerally and has note of lemon sherbit, in a really grown up kind of way.

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte, Canavese

Grapes: Erbaluce

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Grilled prawns with parsley or hard Italian cheese.

"Aged in a 400-litre Spanish ceramic amphora for one month, this wine is focused and bright, yet possesses depth. It exudes the aroma of white flowers, garden herbs, Earl Grey tea, beeswax, nuts, lemon peel and quince. Approachable and youthful, it captures the essence of a sunlit garden, beautifully blending structure and terroir" - Lilla O'Connor, Decanter Magazine February 2024

Grapes: Rkatsiteli

Country: Ukraine

Region: Mykolaiv

ABV: 13.5%

Food pairing: roast chicken with French beans and onion gravy.

Beykush Winery is a family winery located close to the Black Sea in Chernomorka village, Mykolaiv region. Beykush vineyards consist of 14 hectares of French, Italian, and Georgian clones.

Red berry fruit, full of spice, white pepper and floral notes. Supple, intense palate with fine tannin matched by plenty of fruit.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Syrah

Food match

Braised lamb and blue cheese, pecorino with rosemary and sundried tomato gremolada!

At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.

Intense aromas of white peach, nectarine and grapefruit, which follow through on the palate and are joined by a crème bruleé like creaminess from the extended lees ageing.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Rkatsiteli

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Grilled vegetables, light pasta dishes such as Spaghetti al Limone, shellfish dishes, and soft cheese.

Georgia is considered to be the ‘cradle of wine', as 8,000 year-old indigenous Rkatsiteli grape seeds have been found in clay vessels.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

The Meth`Imon Acacia Assyrtiko 2022 has seductive aromas of candied lemon, hay, mandarin zest and quince. Fresh and zesty in the mouth with a fleshy mid-palate with 1% of Sauvignon Blanc added to the blend.

Skin contact and 30% whole bunch fermentation gives this wine depth of flavour and a hint of tannin, while still retaining the typicity of Assyrtiko. This wine shows fantastic integration, spending ten months spent on lees in acacia barrels.

Drinking well now but will age up to 10 years.

Country: Greece

Region: Thessaly

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Assyrtiko

Food match: Pairs perfectly with Greek salads, shellfish and grilled white fish.

Dougos Winery was founded in 1991 by Thanos and Louiza Dougos. Thanos is the viticulturist and Louiza is the winemaker and together they make wines from indigenous Greek varieties as well as blends with international grapes. They also operate one of Greece's oldest vine nurseries, which was established in 1950. Production is small, peaking at around 70,000 bottles per year. The winery is located in the Tempi Valley, on the foothills of Mount Olympus, in what constitutes the PDO Rapsani, in the Thessaly region. The vineyards are planted in iron-rich schist soils at altitudes of 450-700 metres. These soils are hardy and the iron content is important as it helps regulate the water capacity of the soil. The vineyards are cultivated without the use of irrigation, at low yields, and are certified organic.

The wines are very true to their origin and are always elegant, refined and expressive, and never dominated by new oak. The 300 litre acacia barrels used for the Assyrtiko are always only lightly or not at all toasted, in order to not overpower the intricate qualities.

Lovely, fresh and full of red apples and ripe pineapple fruit. A full of style of Aussie Chardonnay! 

Country: Australia

Region: South East Australia

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13%

Complex and powerful. Dried-fruit aromas along with red fruit compote beautifully combined with creamy vanilla and toffee for a silky-smooth and wonderfully balanced flavour. Very, very long finish. 

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: 25% Touriga Nacional, 25% Tinta Roriz, 20% Touriga Franca, 30% Others

ABV: 20%

Kopke, a Port house specialising in aged tawny and aged white ports, is know to be the oldest established port producer, in existence since 1638 and has an incredible library of wine in its cellars.

One of the hidden secrets of the wine world - Gruner Veltliner. A must try if you haven't before. This take on Gruner is exceptional - with some barrel fermentation - this wine has the most extraordinary length and minerality.

Dry, refreshing, with citrus and green apple aromas. The palate is wonderfully tight and pure with mineral acidity flowing around the apple and peach flavours. Delicious with roast pork and apple sauce.

Country: Austria

Region: Niederosterreich, Kremstal DAC

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Grüner Veltliner

The vintage is dense in colour, retaining a purplish-blue hint typical of wines that are slow to develop. Chewy and rich, with dried fruits and fresh herbs. Full and chewy.

Country: France

Region: St Emilion, Bordeaux

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Merlot

Super, easy drinking, modern everyday Claret. A lovely fruit expression on very soft and delicate tannins.

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Grapes: Merlot

ABV: 13%

Dark, ruby red in colour, with fresh and vibrant aromas of black fruits which follows through on the palate with juicy black cherry, a youthful wine with good extract and great balance. Ready to drink now, after a meal, on its own or with a cheese board.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Field Blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional,
Tinta Francisca and others.

ABV: 19.5%

Food match: perfect with hard cheese or blue cheese

Ruby red in colour and beautifully fresh and fruity on the nose and palate. Velvety tannins and a long, elegant finish. The Dão region of Portugal is known as their Burgundy - when you taste this lovely wine you will understand why.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes: Jaen, Alfrocheiro and others (field blend)

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Lamb tagine

Stunning dry Riesling that really talks of its terroir. Floral on the nose. It is ripe, full of yellow plum fruit flavours. The Riesling that makes this "Melaphyr" wine are grown on the steep, south facing slopes of Schneider's estate that are rich in volcanic rock. The soil warms up quickly, providing perfect growing conditions.

Country: Germany

Region: Nahe

Grapes: Riesling

ABV:12%

Food Match: Fresh shellfish or Goat's cheese salads

Hunter Semillon at its very best!

This wine possesses intensely flavoured, pristine fruit with a clean and zippy palate and fresh fruit flavours of sherbet, lemon, passion fruit and pineapple. Fresh cut grass notes too.

Country: Australia

Region: Hunter Valley

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Semillon